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Film Appreciation

Film Appreciation. Films communicate in their own special way using - The Language of Film!. 1. Films Construct Meaning - 1 (a) Films are a construction - they convey messages / ideas / bias of the film maker.

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Film Appreciation

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  1. Film Appreciation Films communicate in their own special way using - The Language of Film!

  2. 1. Films Construct Meaning - 1 (a) Films are a construction - they convey messages / ideas / bias of the film maker • Films communicate by using a selection and combination of production elements such as: • Visual Imagery • Sound • Colour • Camera placement & Shot Type • Lighting and • Symbolism

  3. 1. Films Construct Meaning - 2 • The producer will have in mind exactly what they want to communicate, therefore they will choose to record their raw material in a way which is designed to strengthen their message.

  4. 1. Films Construct Meaning - 3 • Films therefore are not a haphazard arrangement of production elements, but like words in a book the production elements are specifically chosen to convey meaning.

  5. 1. Films Construct Meaning - 4 • The way in which a director chooses to combine production elements may also enable the viewer to be manipulated to believe or think in a particular way. Viewing Exercise 1: Ferry Travel Extracts: 1. Positive view of Ferry Travel 2. Negative view of Ferry Travel

  6. 1. Films Construct Meaning - 5 • Particular raw materials are combined during filming such that one element will support and strengthen the other and underscore the intended meaning. Video Extract: “Black Stallion” Boy meets Horse Our UNDERSTANDING of CHARACTERS, SITUATIONS and EVENTS is a result of a films method of CONSTRUCTION

  7. To enable the audience to become more involved in the story and aligned with particular characters various visual techniques are used involving camera placement and shot type. 2. Audience Involvement through Camera Shots - 1 Films may require the Audience to be either Active or Passive

  8. 2. Audience Involvement through Camera Shots - 2

  9. 2. Audience Involvement through Camera Shots - 3 Viewing Exercise 2: Video Extract 1 - The Fast Car 1 Video Extract 2 - The Fast Car 2 A film which uses camera techniques to create an ACTIVE AUDIENCE will have a greater EFFECT / INFLUENCE on that audience. Audience INVOLVEMENT and MANIPULATION will therefore be greater.

  10. 3. Framing and Screen Placement - 1 The Two-thirds Rule - Pleasing to the eye, Identification of Characters, Dominant position in frame High horizon line emphasises being closed in, trapped, problems Strong Compositional Points Low Horizon emphasises Openness, Freedom, Thought

  11. 3. Framing and Screen Placement - 2 • Low Horizon Openness, Fresheness, THOUGHT, HOPE • High Horizon Down to Earth, RESTRICTED, TRAPPED • Edges of Frame Barrier, Separation, LACK of UNDERSTANDING Extract: “My Brilliant Career” (Opening Scene)

  12. 3. Framing and Screen Placement - 3 Framing and placement within the Screen help an audience to interpret RELATIONSHIPS between characters and the FEELINGS, ASPIRATIONS or PREDICAMENT of characters

  13. 4. Sound adds Meaning to Visuals - 1 • Sound comprises four elements: WORDS MUSIC SFX SILENCE

  14. 4. Sound adds Meaning to Visuals - 2 There are two classifications of sound in film: • Diegetic: Sounds adding realism eg. SFX, dialogue • Non-diegetic: Sounds adding meaning eg. Music, silence, unreal SFX

  15. 3. Sound adds Meaning to Visuals - 3 (a) Dialogue explains feelings, emotions, motivations Video Extract: “Blackmail” - Kitchen scene / Duel washroom walk (b) Music creates Mood Video Extract: “Black Stallion” - washed up boy meets horse (c) SFX add realism and emphasise Meaning Video Extract: “Too late to be Sorry” - (Clock) “Duel” ending (d) Silence places the audience in the film so they have the same experience as the characters Video Extract: “Jaws” - underwater search / Castaway - island life

  16. 3. Sound adds Meaning to Visuals - 4 Sound constructs MEANING and helps an audience INTERPRET and EXPERIENCE what is seen

  17. 4. Colour reflects Mood- 1 • Colour is used to emphasise the MOOD within a film. It can be added during filming with the use of filters or by the use of colour in the DECOR, CLOTHING or OBJECTS within the frame.

  18. 4. Colour reflects Mood- 2 • Colour can also be added later in post-production using a mixing desk and adjusting a scene by dialing in a colour wash to enhance the EMOTIONAL SIGNIFICANCE of a SETTING

  19. 4. Colour reflects Mood- 3 Different colours in film imply different emotions. Some of the more common are: • BLUE: Cold, Night, Sadness, Death • YELLOW: Enjoyment, Happiness, Life, Understanding Video Extract: “Too late to be Sorry” (Hall and Letter sequence)

  20. 4. Colour reflects Mood- 4 Different colours in film imply different emotions. Some of the more common are: • BLACK&WHITE: Past, Underprivileged, Thoughts, Harsh Video Extract: “Somewhere in Time” - Opening scene • RED: Warmth, Love, Desire, Danger *See Extract under Lighting in next section!

  21. 4. Colour reflects Mood- 5 Colour is used to set a MOOD, add FEELING and reflect EMOTIONS. It communicates to the audience how they are to FEEL about a character, SITUATION or location.

  22. 5. Lighting - 1 • A FULLY LIT scene provides INFORMATION whereas MINIMAL LIGHTING, BACKLIGHTING and SIDELIGHTING throw elements within the frame into MYSTERY or EVIL and add DRAMA to the scene

  23. 5. Lighting - 2 Video Extract: “Somewhere in Time” (Hall of Fame) Lighting & RED “Fighting Back” (Deserted factory) (Significance of setting, light & birds) Lighting helps create MOOD. Lighting also FOCUSES audience ATTENTION to a particular element within the scene. Lighting is also used for DRAMATIC effect.

  24. 6. Meaning and Bias through Symbolism - 1 Symbols may be used to add meaning - You must look for them actively! Settings, decor, objects and clothing are some symbols which may be used to give meaning. Cat EVIL Ceiling Fan DANGER FLAMES Passion BARRIERS Barriers PATH Being Misled Some Common Symbols:

  25. 6. Meaning and Bias through Symbolism - 2 Video Extracts: “My Brilliant Career” (Verandah sequence - pillars & pillow fight & garden path) “Cry Freedom” (Meeting with Police Chief - garden path - don’t always believe what you hear - look for other clues to meaning!) “Too late to be Sorry” (Boys bedroom scene & background picture)

  26. 6. Meaning and Bias through Symbolism - 2 Symbols are used within a film to GUIDE and CONVINCE an audience to THINK a particular way. Symbols may convey VARIOUS meanings and thus gain meaning from the CONTEXT within which they are used. To fully understand a film an audience must ACTIVELY look for and consider the meaning of symbols.

  27. The Language of Film To really understand a Film remember a film maker will use codes of communication • Visual Imagery • Camera placement & Shot Type • Sound • Lighting and • Colour • Symbolism to convey ideas, moods and meanings. Actively look for these and your film viewing will be raised to a new level.

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